With the advent of democratic rule in 1999, there has been dearth in qualitative and purposeful leadership by the ruling class. It has been a case of selfish, rudderless and uninspiring leadership which Nigerians have been experiencing. The style of leadership and governance offered Nigerians by these leaders is myopic and primitive. This is not to say the crop of leaders we have had since 1999 are all bad, there are few examples who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and selflessness.
Since 1999, it has been a norm for most public office holders especially governors to be "clannish" in projects execution, policy and decision making and even with appointments. Many governors at the expiration of their tenure amass questionable wealth and are often subject of investigation due to allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment. Another endemic trait of these set of leaders is the pettiness with which they play "their" politics. They are always at war with either their predecessor or successors. The cases are many to mention, but for because of some obvious reasons.
While many may call for caution, I will be audacious with my claims that Dr. Peter Mbah as the incoming governor of Enugu state is a unique example of what good leadership and governance would become in Enugu state in particular, and Nigeria in general, and future leaders should emulate. The reasons are not far-fetched and I will like to highlight few of it.
When Dr. Mbah won the primary election on the 25th May 2022, to become the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, some interested parties who contested against him ragged media war against him with lots of false and fabricated stories with campaign of calumny against him, and rather than the expected pushback either overtly or covertly, neither happened under Mbah's watch. This is simple demonstration of matured knowledge that democracy is about popularity and scorecard appraisal by the electorates in place of bile-full and instigated attacks. It is further reveals the stock the gentleman is made of - a man who will not heat up the polity of his state for personal or political interests. Rather, he has been focused and went about discharging his developmental programmes to the electorates through a well packaged town hall meetings with the Enugu state local government development centres. A feat non of the any governorship candidates has ever achieved in the past two decades.
A reason for my assertion of Dr. Peter Mbah is the sort of ideas and developmental visions his administration has proposed for the people of Enugu state. These projects proposals informed from an economic value and of enormous importance in improving the level of self generated fortunes for the state thus reducing its reliance on federal allocation with a boost in the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and IGR (Internally Generated Revenue). Mbah's blueprint on industrializing the state, building the Agro-allied processing zones which will in turn grow the fortunes of the state around for good, and will do for a long time.
Without a doubt, Dr. Mbah's strategy on security and poverty alleviation will create a huge economic balance and job opportunities when implemented. He is such a leader who will refuse to weaponise poverty or keep his people in the grip of social-economic hardship in a bid to consolidate his hold onto political power, dominance or relevance, but has visioned an approach to create job opportunities, access to quality education, genuine empowerment schemes and economically viable initiatives.
Dr. Peter Mbah is a man whose values and sterling leadership qualities are appreciated and even celebrated by prominent persons, organizations both home and abroad. I will recommend with sense of responsibility, that all aspiring public office holders understudy Peter Mbah and get a great perspective on selflessness in leadership. It will surely be a good model to emulate and always celebrate. Indeed, our TomorrowIsHere
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